so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, and Yahweh will be my God,
Parallel translations
- KJV So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:
- BSB so that I may return safely to my father’s house, then the LORD will be my God.
- NKJV so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God.
- NASB and I return to my father’s house in safety, then the Lord will be my God.
- NLT and if I return safely to my father’s home, then the Lord will certainly be my God.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jacob's vow continues: if he returns safely, then Yahweh will be his God.
Overview
Jacob looks to a peaceful homecoming as the visible confirmation of God's faithfulness, after which he pledges Yahweh as his God. Rather than a condition imposed on God, this expresses Jacob's intention to embrace the covenant Lord personally. His personal faith is taking root, moving from the God of his fathers toward "my God."
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Judg 11:31then it shall be, that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, it shall be Yahweh’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.”
- Deut 26:17You have declared today that Yahweh is your God, and that you would walk in his ways, and keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his ordinances, and listen to his voice.
- Exod 15:2Yah is my strength and song. He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
- 2 Sam 15:8For your servant vowed a vow while I stayed at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If Yahweh shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh.’”
- 2 Sam 19:24Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king; and he had neither groomed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace.
- 2 Sam 19:30Mephibosheth said to the king, “Yes, let him take all, because my lord the king has come in peace to his own house.”
- 2 Kgs 5:17Naaman said, “If not, then, please let two mules’ burden of earth be given to your servant; for your servant will from now on offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice to other gods, but to Yahweh.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 28:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.